HSBC ASSESSMENT CENTRE

hey noob,
congratulations getting this far in the process and wish you luck landing a job! can i ask you which position are you applying to? i did a few very strange personality questionnaires for a corporate banking graduate scheme a few days ago, but haven't heard back since. Was wondering how long it took them to get back to you?

thanks!! ok, my hsbc experience has been a little stressful thus far, but it has made me think of the people who work there as really nice and helpful etc. i basically got an invite for the tests 2 days after i submitted my form. i did the first test, but experienced a heck of a lot of trouble for the rest. so it took more time than it should have. as far as i could tell, i was supposed to recieve automatic invites for all the tests - but didnt. think you should give them a call, just to check up on where your application is at. there were lots of problems with my account on their website . but anyway, after i completed all the tests, i got an invited to the telephone interview the next day. after my telephone interiew - got invited to ac the morning after. so, it was all meant to be a quick process for me. BUT i did apply for HR, so i'm sure its different from corp banking. think there would be more applications, therefore more time involved. but i would recommend you giving them a call anyway!

GOOD LUCK!

oh just so that you're clear- after you complete the personality questionnaire, you're supposed to recieve automatic invites for the numerical test.

Hey noob. Do you know how many grads HSBC take on their HR grad scheme each year? Have you been applying for HR positions anywhere else?

I have no idea how many hr positions there are. i'd guess quite a few though, seems like a big programme. I've been applying to various banks for hr positions - db, ubs, rbs, gs, err can't remember the others. a lot have put a pause on their hiring for this division unfortunately. But i'm not too concerned; i've got an offer from kpmg, which i think i'll accept even if i get offers from banks, as i think its a slightly more stable area to be in right now. plus quite a few of big 4 grads make the switch to hr after a few years, so that might be a possible route for me.

Do you mean switch to IB?

Is the WikiJob wiki for KPMG the same process for HR?

Well done on the offer. You'll certainly be safe in accountancy. Sounds like you have a good plan :)

oops, i guess i should make myself clear! no, i applied for audit at kpmg, and have got an offer. i also applied to hr in banks - which would be my ideal job if the situation wasn't so bad. thats why audit was my safer option - in the long run, its a lot better.
but from what i've heard, a lot of people go into big 4 in whatever area, and switch to hr in banks after a couple of years. so that may be a possibility.

Hey noob, are you supposed to do the verbal and numerical tests straight away after the personality questionnaire? How much time they gave you to practice?

Hi noob,

Hope you did well in the assessment center and got the offer by now.

I applied HSBC executive management programme and got invited to the telephone interview (i have not confirmed the date with them yet), it would be grateful if you could provide me some tips like what questions to expect and what traps to look out etc. (just becoming more and more nervous as this would be my first telephone interview)

Many thanks!

Hi firstlink,
I applied for the Executive management programme with HSBC. I even completed the online tests but I am not getting a reply from them. How many days it took for you to get a telephone interview? I did the test last week. waiting for your reply.

Hi Vivekrao,

It took more than a week for them to get back to me, so if you did the test last week, i'd say you might hear from them sometime this week or early next week.

I don't think you need to worry about your test, as you failed the test, they normally send you an email staright away.

All the best !

Andy L- i'm under the impression thats what's supposed to happen. i had so many technical problems that nothing happened as it should have, so i'm not too sure!! you get about 5 days to do all of them tho!

as for the telephone interviews, it was kinda standard. i'm trying to remember the questions:
- tell me about a time when you had to work with a new team - i think that was looking at how you build team spirit
- tell me about a time you taught someone how to do something
- tell me about a time you solved a problem you had no solution to

i'll try to remember the rest. in total there were 6 questions. i'd advise you to just sound confident, because they only have your voice to judge you by.

Hi noob,

Many thanks for your kindly help!

Will they ask anything about current commercial issues, as commercial judegement is one of HSBC's competencies.

Thanks again for your advise

nope, but i just remembered, they did ask when you worked in a team to meet a business target/expectation - e.g delivering good customer service etc.

you won't get asked anything about why hsbc, why the role, or current affairs. just 6 competency questions.

I've applied to HSBC global markets, passed both the tests but my application is still under consideration? (20 days since I completed the test) - Has anyone else experienced the same thing? I think I may be rejected.

Its been a while since i completed the numeracy n the verbal tests...still the status on the online system says "Testing", havnt recieved any mails from them eithr :S..should i be contacting thm to find out?

hi noob,
did u get an assessment centre invitation??
I passed the tests and they've sent me a link to update my profile..

yeah, i got an email saying i passed the interview stage, and will be invited to an AC. still no news from them tho

I have my first round telephonic interview with HSBC coming up...can anyone please tell me what the interview is like? and what sort of questions should i be expecting? I have applied for the executive management tainee program.

competencies only. its not too bad! i've put some questions in this thread, but it'll probably be different for most people. the only advice i'll give is to sound 110% confident. they only have your voice to get an impression, so speak clearly and smile when you're speaking.

good luck!

What if the questions that are being asked are not something that you have prepared for since there are so many types of competency based questions? What do you do?

ask for a moment to think about it, and try your best to adapt one othe prepared situations to that competency. you do have to think on the spot a little.

Seems like a lot of people are applying for the executive management trainee program! I actually just submitted mine without the cover letter. Because the march and sept intake have been taken out and only the July intake is left there. So I guess I had to be fast instead of rewriting a new cover letter for them. Do you think that's ok? I spoke to them before and they said they only employ 35 people into this programme every year! Any idea how long will they take to get back to me?

I am very surprise that I have got a reply from HSBC at this hour. I received an email to do the personality test. Is this the second round? If it is how come it is being reviewed at this hour?! or every candidate is invited to take the personality test automatically?

AndyL, those invitations to personality tests are automatic indeed. And they are important! i don't like them at all, and this is not because i have been rejected after this stage like 2 hours ago. I just don't think they are a good way assessing people on any basis and as long as you pass them nobody will care at a later stage how did you do in those tests.

At least that's my opinion, to which i haven't found yet any contradictory evidence.

My friend had a phone interview with HSBC - IBD and got an email from them shortly after the interview. The email she received is rather vague and it doesn't say clearly whether she is fully successful and will move onto the AC stage.

Below is the response she got a day after her phone interview. What do you think?

"Thank you for attending the recent first interview with us. We are delighted to confirm that you have been successful.

We will be conducting a final review of all successful candidates prior to the next stage of the selection process which is the Assessment Centre. The Assessment Centres will be running in November and December and we will advise you as soon as possible with further details.

We thank you in advance for your patience in this matter and your continued interest in HSBC.

Kind Regards
HSBC Graduate Recruitment Team"

Thanks,

Mark Stevens @ Cambridge

What makes you think is not successful when it is clearly stated that your friend has been successful? I am a bit confused!

She thinks that the email is basically saying that she has passed the telephone interview. However, that does not mean that she will be invited to one of the assessment centres. In other words, HSBC will review those who passed the telephone interviews and invite a portion of them to the assessment centre. What do you think?

Best,

Mark Stevens @ Cambridge

hi noob,
did you go for the assessment centre?
kindly post some of your experiences at the ace centre.

thanks,

Vivek

haven't had it yet! don't even know when it is.

edit: btw vivekrao, you've disabled your private messages function ,so i'll just reply to ut here - they let me know the outcome of the interview the day after. the lady did say she didn't want to set a specific number of days as its hard to say when they will let you know. so just hold on there!

Hi Mark,

I got exactly the same message from them as your friend, and I am having the same interpretation of the mail as her. Guess they are still screening other candidates thus they cannot make any further decisions at this moment.

I am also applying for that division, but HK office. How about your friend? maybe we will have chance to meet each other~~~

Anyways, good luck for both of me and your friend~~~

Best,
Anne

Hi Noob,

Are you applying to HSBC to start on their HR grad scheme next september? you must have the cipd qualification already then right? It seems that this is a new requirement as of now! it wasn't clear on their website (maybe they've changed this now) but at the National Graduate Recruitment Exhibition earlier this month all their literature states this.

yeah i applied for hr, but don't have the cipd. i don't think you need it at all! in fact i'm pretty sure on their website they state that you are given the option of studying for the qualification whilst on your grad scheme!
i'm taking it you're applying for hr. where else have you applied?

i know thats exactly what it says on the website! but i spoke to the HR reps at the fair and one student on the hr grad scheme and he says that it has changed for the 2009 intake. in their brochures it states this also. i assumed it was because the scheme is so competitive that this is a way of narrowing the applicant pool.

but then if you've managed to progress in the process it must mean you don't have to have it already. argh! why can't they make things clear?

i don't know if you've applied, but apply anyway! i don't think the application form was too demanding, if i remember correctly, there was only one open ended question. you don't have anything to lose anyway! i certainly don't have the cipd, but i have studied hr as part of my uni (only 2 modules out of 50 or something tho!)

oops i just noticed we're talking about hsbc...for some reason i though rbs - i'm dumb.

yeah, definately just apply! you have to give a cv and a cover letter - so nothing too much - make sure you really express a commitment to hr!

Hi Mark,

I had my telephone interview today and I got the same email as your friend recieved, that I had been successful and through to the AC etc etc. However, I recieved an email at 18.52 confirming I was to attend an AC on the 10th Novemeber. I am applying to Global Markets, IB.

Bananas,

Congratulations! I wish you the best.

guys i have an interview with HSBC tommorow for thr executive management trainee programme. has anyone taken this interview?? could you kindly share your experiences regarding it! what questions to expect and all...i shall really appreciate.

Hi guys, I'd like to know if the grad scheme is only focused on university students or can students from colleges apply as well. I have graduated from a relatively new and upcoming college. I dont know how HSBC would react to my degree.

Also, I want to apply for the executive management progrm. The website says that the candidates need to held a position as a school captain and stuff like that... does it really matter a lot during the telephonic and face-2face interviews... as I've not held anything substansive during my college and school days.

Cheers!

Hi Guys,
I have applied for executive scheme as well. Had a telephone interview I passed and booked for an assessment centre in 2 weeks time. Anyone else been to HSBC assessment centre? Or any one going ?
Those who want to know about telephone interview, its straight forward, six questions. no questions about hsbc or why u want to join and so on. Six questions include, how you met a customer's expectation, when was it when you struggled but had to do some skills improvement. well all those compentancy stuff that you would expect.
cheers,

Hi jlee,

Congrats for gettin through the telephone interview...

Hey could u tell me something about the online verbal and numerical tests? I am really worried about it cos I am not so gud with numbers...

How are the questions? Is it basic or is some kind of preparation required? Could you please help?

Cheers!

Hi Sara,
Dont be worried. These are numerical analysis questions like you get on all graduate schemes. If you have basic understanding of math/numerics you would be OK. The verbal reasoning is also simple. Just read the question and see what paragraph says about it. Dont assume anything and you would be fine. I feel so at ease with these questions I am tempted to offer a service for answerng them lol (joke).

Hi noob,

Can you briefly talk about your AC experience? What kind of activities you went through, and how hard were the interview questions at that stage? Thanks a lot.

haven't had it yet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey does anybody here apply for Hong Kong office? I got the message after phone interview but so far no information sent on AC. Thank you very much if you can give me hints on when AC for HK office might take place. Send me email please! i am not on this wiki always.

Jane from Beijing.

Hello,

Anybody who has already been in an assessment center at HSBC for a graduate programme?
I would really appreciate if you could tell me how is it organized and what do you do there? Questions they ask, any role-play or case study...

Thank you

hihi, any one have AC experience would you please kindly give me some information on the kind of topic for the group discussion and some general information? thanks a lot, I applied private banking

my friend attended AC for Global markets in UK, for internship. and according to him, no technical question was asked. (he passed). but i am not sure this time. full time interview must be a little bit more difficult? i am waiting for AC too. anybody who already attended?

thanks a lot. i am applying global markets-sales.